Dongji Island Introduction
Did you know that there is a marine national park in Penghu? The "Southern Four Islands National Park" includes Dongji, Xiji, Dongyuping, and Xiyuping islands along with surrounding reefs and waters. Due to its sparse population, it has retained its primitive appearance and is an important ecological tourism destination. The easternmost island, Dongji Island, is the largest among the Southern Four Islands and is the closest island to Taiwan within the Penghu archipelago. It was once a transshipment station for maritime trade between Taiwan and Penghu. The surrounding waters have several spiral undercurrents, causing frequent shipwrecks, which earned it the nickname "Black Water Ditch." To ensure the safety of ships, two lighthouses were built during the Japanese occupation, with the Dongji Lighthouse on the northern side being the highest point on the island, featuring a striking black-and-white tower. Traces of Japanese military presence can be seen at the northeast corner, where there are remnants of the artillery barracks known locally as "Bingcuo." From the visitor center, heading west to Bagua Mountain and climbing to a high point offers a view of Dongji Harbor, Dongji Lighthouse, and the nearby sea. The Bagua Mountain rock formation is characterized by narrow basalt, and on the left side, there is a circular rock resembling an eye, referred to as the "Eye of Dongji." The coastline around Dongji Island is mostly steep columnar basalt cliffs, with a massive wave-cut platform at the northeast corner known locally as "Daping," where many intertidal creatures can be found at low tide. Due to its rich basalt landscape, it, along with Xiji, Touwu, and Tiezhu Island, has been designated as the "Penghu South Sea Basalt Nature Reserve."
Dongji Island
Dongji Island
